For God, Family and Republic

James Ewell Brown Stuart, nicknamed J.E.B. after his first three intials, was a Confederate cavalry commander known for his dashing image (as he wore a red-lined gray cape, yellow sash, hat to the side with a peacock feather, red flower in his lapel, often sporting cologne). He was possessed of audacious tactics and a profound sense of daring, determination and drive. He was a West Point graduate, and a veteran of the frontier wars against the Apache and the Mexican War. Through his daring raids and reconnaissance missions, he became General Robert E. Lee's eyes and ears. Though, he failed to regroup the Calvary with Lee's Army in Gettysburg and got lost for a while in Pennsylvania while doing reconnaissance. He was tragically killed late in the War. He was very much missed by Lee and the Confederacy.

The Last Days of Jeb Stuart
Jeb Stuart was mortally wounded on April 28, 1864, and his biographer Burke Davis captures that captivating and tragic moment:

Captain Gus Dorsey, commanding this company, was near Stuart, in the center of the sevent-odd men of K Company. Stuart shouted, "Bully for Old K! Give it to 'em, boys!"

McClellan watched him empty his big silver-chased pistol at the retreating Federals, who were being pushed by a charge of the 1st Virginia.
Stuart continued to call to the troopers, "Steady, men, steady!"

A bluecoat horseman who had been dismounted in the charge trotted back with his companions, pistol in hand, just across the fence from Stuart.

The Federal was Private John Huff.

Huff fired on the run at the big man on the gray horse, with almost casual aim.

Oliver saw the general press a hand to his side. Stuart's head dropped. His hat fell off.

"General, are you hit?" Oliver asked.

"Yes."

"You wounded bad?"

"I'm afraid I am," Stuart said, "but don't worry, boys. Fitz will do as well for you as I have."

To the courier at his side Stuart said, "Go ask General Lee and Doctor Fontaine to come here."

The courier found Lomax and told him the news, then found Fitz Lee on the left of the line.

Dorsey recorded his own impressions of the moment: "Stuart reeled on his horse and said, 'I am shot.' And then, 'Dorsey, save your men!"

Dorsey caught the general to hold him in his saddle and troopers took Jeb to the rear.

"As we were taking him back Tom Waters, of Baltimore, led his horse while Fred Pitts and myself, one on either side of him, went back about one hundred yards."

Stuart protested, and Captain Dorsey remonstrated, "We're taking you back a little, General, so as not to leave you to the enemy."

Davis, Burke. Jeb Stuart: The Last Cavalier (New York, NY: Wings Books, p. 406.

As the ambulance was dispatched to aid him, Stuart continiously pleaded with Captain Dorsey to abandon him and return to the lines. Stuart said, "Leave me. Get back to your men and drive the enemy." Dorsey rebuffed him, "I can't obey that order, General, I would they get me, too, than leave you here for them. We'll have you out in a shake." Burke Davis notes, "They took Jeb farther to the rear, and most of the cavalrymen, obeying his order, returned to the front."